I know that Stanford is a crapshoot for everybody, but do I even have a chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hello everyone! :)</p>

<p>I'm an international student that currently lives in East Africa. I'm looking to apply to the US and the UK for class of 2019
If I go the the US I wil probably need finaid (Not in the UK, I'm an EU citizen)</p>

<p>Here my stats!</p>

<p>Objective:
School: International Private British
ACT: Im taking it in september, from practice tests I'm predicting a 32/33 composite (I can't get a very good grade in English and Reading)
SAT II: BioM 740, Math II in october, expecting between 700 and 750
We don't use GPA
IGCSE:
A* in Physics, ICT, French
A in Math, Biology, Global Perspectives, Geography
B in English Language and English Literature
IB predicted (based on previous grades):
English SL 6 (I started learning english in freshman year, before i used to be in an italian-only speaking school)
Biology HL 7
Physics HL 7
Math SL 6
ITGS HL 7
Spanish Ab Initio SL 7
(40/42)</p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-MUN delegate for 3 years, I took part in a conference and I held the position of secretary of the club in junior year. Next year (Senior Year) I will be in charge of Junior MUN, a club started from scratch.
-Duke of Edinburgh bronze award recipient
-6 month internship at a local architectural firm
-Created a city-wide internship placement program involving most international schools in the city
-This summer I'm building homes in the countryside with Habitat for Humanity
-I speak 4 languages, Italian and English fluent and I'm conversational in French and Spanish. I'm currently studying Portuguese and Swedish
-I know Python
-I'm working on some projects regarding green energy with a very influential organization
-I MIGHT get an internship with a leading aircraft engine producer and maybe the UN
-I had a cameo in a movie (I'm probably not even going to mention it, it was a small role in an even smaller movie...)
-A bunch of other clubs (Yearbook, Journalism, etc...)</p>

<p>Planning on applying to:</p>

<p>Cambridge University (UK) Natural Sciences (Probably Trinity College or St John's)
University of Manchester (UK)
Stanford
Cornell
Penn
UCSB
Franklin W Olin
UW Seattle
Northwestern?
TU Delft?</p>

<p>While I know they are all reaches, I would like to know if you think that I have a chance at any of these school. BE BRUTALLY HONEST PLEASE!</p>

<p>Also, can you suggest some safety and match schools for me? I want to major in materials engineering/science. In TU Delft I would be applying for aerospace engineering.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for you help!</p>

<p>S2Stan :)</p>

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<p>Bump! :(</p>

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<p>Thanks for chancing me! You have a very interesting background and your ECs are great! Assuming you do as well as you anticipate, I think you’re a good candidate for most of these schools. </p>

<p>I’m leaving out the UK ones because I literally know nothing about them. </p>

<p>Stanford - It’s a reach for literally anybody but you have a shot.
Cornell - Low reach
Penn - Reach
UCSB - High Match
Franklin W Olin - I actually dont know anything about this school, oops
UW Seattle - Match / low match (from the little I know about the school)
Northwestern - High match
TU Delft - I dont know anything about this one :/</p>

<p>I’d recommend getting a TRUE safety on this list, but you’re in good standing I think. </p>

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<p>Thank you for replying to my chance post. Yeah I agree with gchats. Your stats are great and you can get into many reach colleges. You provide much culture and colleges love that. Based on gchats rankings, I believe you got a shot at Cornell for sure, Penn, Northwestern. It also depends on what the school can offer you either than a reputation. I see you as a rainbow with many great things to offer, but I feel there are still many things/colors to be seen. Its also always good to call the colleges or get a personal interview and talk about your chances to them. :)</p>

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<p>Well I’m not exactly an expert on this sort of thing, but I’d say that you seem interesting and unique enough that your application would definitely at least be up for consideration at most of these places- The UK schools however, are very tough. I know that Cambridge University has specific admissions tests that it requires its applicants to sit in on, and from personal experience I can tell you that they are nigh on impossible. You would have to take the physics exam if you wanted to apply for engineering at UK schools. It’s hard. No offense, but you don’t seem to be particularly inclined towards the maths or sciences based on your EC’s and SAT II scores, so you will have a lot of trouble with this exam. It’s called the PAT if you want to look into it some more. Applying for the natural sciences will require some similar sort of exam, which I guarantee will be equally difficult</p>

<p>Stanford- really high reach
cornell- reach
Penn-Reach
northwestern- match</p>

<p>I’m sorry, I’m not really a professional college applicant like many people on this website so I don’t know a lot of the schools that you listed, and my opinions may not be valid in the slightest, but take them as you will. Thanks for chancing me!</p>

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<p>These stats are pretty strong even for someone in the US, so you would definitely stand out as someone living in East Africa. I would say you have a pretty good chance with the Ivies, especially Cornell and UCSB. As for Stanford, you’re definitely a strong candidate, and I can see you getting accepted (but who knows). Just be sure to market yourself as a science/engineering guy. See if you can secure those aircraft/UN internships, because they will boost you a lot. Also, brilliant essays may tip you into the acceptance pile. </p>

<p>You can definitely get into sub-ivy but top US schools that are strong in the engineering/sciences. I strongly suggest that you apply to University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (ranked #2 in materials engineering) and Georgia Institute of Technology (materials engineering dept. on par with Stanford’s) for your safeties. You can also get into University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Penn State, which also have top 10 materials engineering programs. </p>

<p>Btw your English is phenomenal for someone who’s only been learning for several years! </p>

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<p>If you need FA and some sure safeties, look up the thread about the colleges that offer aid to international students because not all of them do</p>

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<p>@gchats‌ Thank you! :slight_smile: Lol I should have mentioned that TU Delft is a Dutch school in the Netherlands! </p>

<p>@LesGarc‌ Thank you! Wow, I did not think my odds were so high! I feel so relieved :slight_smile:
And, I love that metaphor, Thanks! :D</p>

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<p>@wqjj6178hh‌ I’m absolutely not offended! I’m aware that my EC are not very STEM, but when you live in East Africa and you are a foreigner opportunities are pretty limited. I’m trying to make up for it with my green energy projects and the aircraft internship. Thanks for your feedback :)</p>

<p>@Lux7Aeterna‌ Thank you! :slight_smile: The UN internship is already pretty secure, while I still need to hear back from the aircraft engine manufacturer.I already checked out UIUC, GeorgiaTech and UMich, but they only offer merit scholarships and not financial aid, and I am not sure if I would qualify.
And, BTW, while my writing might be decent, I still have a terrible Italian accent X( </p>

<p>@shawnspencer‌ I looked for it but I could not find it :confused: Can you suggest me some safeties? Thanks :)</p>

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<p>Anymore feedback? :)</p>

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<p>How did you get so many people to respond to yours in the first place?? You are the only person who replied to my post =(( </p>

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<p>Lol @wqjj6178hh‌ ! this is the second thread I opened. After I bumped the first one 7/8 times I gave up and I opened a new one… I guess it’s also because I ask people to chance back :)</p>

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<p>I’m so not college confidential savy. how exactly does one “bump” a post? sighs. i will go back to simply reading through posts but not actually posting any</p>

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<p>Bump means commenting on a post in order to bring it back to the top of the list. This increases visibility. C’mon! If you answer other people threads I guarantee you will get more answers! :)</p>

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<p>OP, you are going to need to ignore some of the posts above. Living in another country WILL NOT work in your favor when applying to American schools. For private schools like Stanford and Penn, priority is given to US students. It would be extremely hard for an American applicant to get in with what you have, let alone an international applicant. For public schools like UCSB, it will be even more difficult to get in because priority is given to residents with California, then within the US and THEN international applicants. So if you want to be seriously considered as an international applicant, your test scores have to be essentially perfect and your essay needs to be impeccable. I can’t speak for the schools outside of America, but for the colleges in the states, even Cornell, they will all be very very high reaches. </p>

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<p>Given that Stanford and Ivies HEAVILY emphasize ECs, I think it is a doable reach for you.</p>

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<p>@AnnieBeats‌ I’m aware of that. Thats also the reason why I’m applying to Europe. Since I have an EU passport, I will have an advantage compared to international students. And thank you for being so blunt. I don’t want people to sugarcoat my chances! :)</p>

<p>@NWIStudent‌ Thanks! :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>Also to S2Stan, being from Africa is a big plus for these colleges. It is probably easier to get in there than the US because these colleges want kids from all countries and love diversity of backgrounds. </p>

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<p>If you need FA, cross UCSB and UW off your list, and do not consider the public universities suggested above; there is just no aid available for international students.</p>

<p>For the rest:</p>

<p>Cambridge University - Reach
University of Manchester (UK) - Match
Stanford - High Reach
Cornell - Low Reach
Penn - Reach
Franklin W Olin - Low Reach
Northwestern - Reach
TU Delft - Match</p>

<p>I’d also suggest looking at Carnegie Mellon and Case Western. They are not safeties, but are closer in the match range. Although it’s a high reach, I’m surprised MIT is not on your list.</p>

<p>Your stats are great. The challenge is that most of the schools you’re listed are highly competitive fore everyone, but I am sure you will get some acceptances.</p>

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<p>@NWIStudent‌ Well, whilst I live in Africa, I’m actually mixed, African European. However I will self report myself as black.</p>

<p>@skieurope‌ I was planning on applying to UCSB and UW and see if I qualify for any merit aid. Carnegie Mellon, surprisingly, does not give any kind of aid to international students. I will check out Case Western.
MIT used to be my dream school. However, I then realized that it might be too techy for me… I would like to go to a school where not everyone is an engineer. Thank you! :)</p>